JCasa *handmade BLOG

hello, March.

oh so much to look forward to this month.  most notably, a shift to dedicated time and space(!) for creating.  in the next two weeks, i plan, source, thrift and dream.  and pack.  then i get to unpack.

i am so excited to get started on what's next.  to think, all i needed was a kick in the pants.  xoxo

p.s.  more than likely, i'll be posting new studio sneak peeks on twitter over the coming weeks!

-

p.p.s.  note to self - instagram is great an all, but it's time to get your real camera fixed, jennifer.

boy duo

after a year of knitting + sewing for my second book, and then finding out it may never come to be as envisioned, i've been in a state of crafty mourning.  up, then down.  boo.  it happens to all of us.  surely you know what i mean.  and so, for a little while now, i've been trying to figure out how i'm gonna get back up.  it's all about the getting back up.

but as soon as i learned that a friend of a friend was expecting twins, i was immediately snapped out of my funk.  i needed something to get me back into the knitting groove, to find my footing again and move on.  nothing better than baby projects to do the trick.

simple + adorable + off the needles in less than a week.  that's how i like my baby knits.
i used the simple hat pattern by debbie bliss from baby knits for beginners, which is one of my favorite references for wee knits.  i made a few mods to the pattern so i could use worsted weight wool and also knit in the round  :  Ravelry notes here

two little boys will have birthdays no later than tomorrow, and my hope is these little beenies will keep them cozy for a few ohio winters.  and thanks to them, my groove is officially back.  it's all about the getting back up.  sweet serendipity, i am back up.  xoxo

thrift report : right place right time

over the summer, i got into a nice monday morning routine of stopping into a few thrift stores on the way home from dropping the girls off at camp.  i have a few favorite spots (don't we all?) that tend to specialize in certain things.  not that they market themselves as having the best selection of vintage sheets, or vintage tablecloths, or milkglass, or furniture, but like any of you who enjoy thrifting, you just learn to know who's got the best ____ that you fancy.

this was my first trip since camp ended in july, and i will confess i have been jonesing for a good thrifting trip.  all i could think about monday morning while in the dentist's chair being drilled and filled was that after two more errands, i could pop into a certain goodwill i haven't been to in years.  partially because it's out of the way, but more so because i have never had any luck there.  not even a semi-cute pillowcase.  nada.

but this time people, with a half-numb-post-dental-appointment face, it seems that i was in the right place at the right time.

a housecoat made of the most fabulous print + a very cool mid-mod canister.  you may be thinking, "big whoop."  but that C is for Casa canister is destined for my someday-soon studio.  and you'll probably see that very fabric on some list-takers + bibs + wrist cuffs and other new goodies i'm making for the shop.  (hooray for making again!!)

but the story doesn't end there.  hold onto your knickers, betty sue.  as i rounded the final row heading toward the cashier, this little beauty caught my eye...

well helloooo there, gorgeous.  what do we have here?

let's take a closer look.  great lines.  solid maple.  can this be true?  how about i try the drawers to make sure there isn't something scary inside...

gasp.

a planner group desk by paul mccobb.

at.  the.  thrift.

no price tag.  curses!  this must be a trick.  where's the cashier - i'll ask her.  oh.  she's talking to another woman about some guy.  this could take a while.  wait, jennifer.  wait.  be patient.  and for pete's sake, don't look overly excited...  what's that?  the manager just put the desk out 10 minutes ago and i should ask him for the price?  thanks.

oh kindly mr. manager... be cool, jennifer.

be.

cool.

what's that you say?  $9.99?  um... OK.  yes, please.  and thank YOU.

and one day soon, when i move into my studio in the village, that desk will be there with me.  and if you're ever in town, you can visit us - me and the desk - and spill your greatest thrifting scores.  i'm all ears.  xoxo

oh yeah, did i mention it was 50% off day at the thrift?  (slap me.)

self

i screwed up the other day.  not that me screwing up is something out-of-the-ordinary, mind you.  but there was a doozy of a hypothetical-deadline-missing-domino-effect that could have happened.

car keys in house.
door closing.
gasp.

kind request.
of course.
sunshine.
half an hour of swing pushing + garden weeding.

unprecedented afternoon giggles with daddy.
parcel shipped.
ice cream?
amen.

and you know what?  it all worked out.  sans meltdown.  nice.  xoxo

specials

i stashed this brilliant idea by lisa storms in pinterest a month ago because i knew it would be the perfect little something to say thank you to all the special people - bus driver, dance instructors, librarians, teachers of music, art, computer, etc. - who have contributed to a fantastic school year for our girls.

i should have bought the lidded cups with straws when i saw them... where did i see them?  but i didn't.  so we improvised.

+ big floral insulated cups (these are from target)
+ a variety of drink mixes
+ personalized tags cut perfectly round using my (awesome) circle cutter
+ punch a hole for a straw
+ secure the tag inside the rim with washi tape

this process was to be multiplied by 10, so i enlisted my favorite set of 6-year-olds to work the assembly line.  (they were later compensated with ice cream.)  i think we only needed nine, but it has been my experience that you can always find a worthy recipient for that extra one.

i'd love to hear what teacher gifts you are giving this year!  xoxo